Hillsborough Inquests Now Active. NEW - Verdict to be announced 11am 26th April

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Hillsborough Inquests Now Active. NEW - Verdict to be announced 11am 26th April –
10-3-14,23:51

The Attorney General has announced today (10th March 2014) that the Inquests into the events at Hillsborough are now active (even though they don't start until 31st March). This means that any juror can be influenced by information and opinion read outside the courtroom, and social media is included in this.

The Attorney General asks people to take care when commenting online ahead of the Hillsborough inquest

AGO office

AGO building at 20 Victoria Street, London

The inquests into the deaths of the 96 people who died as a result of the events at Hillsborough on 15 April 1989 are due to begin on 31 March 2014.

The inquests will be heard by a coroner (Lord Justice Goldring) together with a jury.

Editors, publishers and social media users should note that the inquest proceedings are currently active for the purpose of the Contempt of Court Act 1981.

The Attorney General wishes to draw attention to the risk of publishing material, including online, which could create a substantial risk that the course of justice in the inquests may be seriously impeded or prejudiced, particularly as this inquest involves a jury.

This risk could arise by commentary which may prejudge issues that witnesses may give evidence about, or matters that the jury will need to consider in reaching their verdict. The inquests could also be prejudiced by publishing details of material (whatever its source) which may not form part of the evidence at the inquest.

The Attorney Generalís Office will be monitoring the coverage of these proceedings.

Editors, publishers and social media users should take legal advice to ensure they are in a position to fully comply with the obligations they are subject to under the Contempt of Court Act. They are also reminded of the advisory note issued by Lord Justice Goldring on 11 February 2014.

As you can imagine, the last thing we wish to do is to allow the inquests, which have been fought for, for so long, to be compromised by anything posted on our own forums.

If you see anything regarding opinion, information, even first hand knowledge, posted on these forums, ask the poster to edit their own post and use the Report button to alert a moderator. If in doubt, do not post.

If there are any further developments on content of the forums we'll advise straight away.

Thanks for your co-operation, and we hope that justice might finally be served for the victims of the Hillsborough tragedy.